Hat storage device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for the storage of articles, such as money, credit cards, keys, golf tees, etc. within a hat, such as a baseball hat. The devices includes a wallet, adapted to be removably held within a hat by means of boning members in a pressure fiot within the hat.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/457,692, filed 26 Mar. 2003.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Many people wear baseball and golf type hats. Many people wearthese hats when engaging in sporting activities, for example, jogging,baseball, hiking, boating, bowling, and so forth. Even people notinvolved with sports wear baseball type hats as part of their uniform,for example delivery service workers and factory workers. Also, manypeople who are just going about their daily activities commonly wearbaseball type hats. Thus, millions of people wear baseball and golf typehats and these hats are part of the fabric of our society.

[0003] However, the same people who wear these hats oftentimes need aplace to store an article while wearing the hat. In the past, attemptshave been made to provide for pockets internal to the hat so thatarticles could be stored therein. However, these past designs did notprovide a structure to support the pocket, nor did these past designsprovide for a convenient pocket to hold credit cards, a driver'slicense, or an airplane ticket. Also, many of these past designs calledfor internal sewing or many internal fasteners provided on the hat.

SUMMARY

[0004] The invention comprises various embodiments of a storage devicefor hats. In one embodiment, the storage device comprises an internalwallet for holding unfolded money, tickets, and other items typicallytoo big for the standard wallet, for example various receipts, boardingpasses, and lottery cards. The storage device provides for an internalwallet that is positioned and secured in the dome of the hat, which doesnot contact the wearer's head. The hat storage device does not requirehook and loop or other fasteners, because the hat storage device ispressure fit into the hat utilizing structural boning members. Anotherembodiment calls for small side pockets which are slid onto thestructural boning members of the hat storage device. The side andsliding pockets may be used for securely storing folded currency, creditcard(s), driver's license and/or other identification, shoppers clubcards, video rental cards, spare golf tees, ball markers, sparebatteries and/or a key(s). When the wearer of the hat is casuallydressed without suitable pocketed storage means disposed elsewhere onhis or her person, or is in need of additional storage for items thatwould be too bulky for the traditional wallet or pocket, he or she canstore articles in the hat storage device.

[0005] The present invention may be sold in a kit comprising a hatstorage device 22 as shown in (FIGS. 1, 2, and 8) along with a hat,and/or pockets, and combinations thereof. Or, since the hat storagedevice can be readily inserted into any hat (it can be done in under 30seconds), it can be sold alone. The hat storage device can be used in a“fully constructed” or “soft top” baseball or golf type hat, as well asvarious Beret type hats and others.

[0006] Thus, the present storage hat overcomes the problems associatedwith the past designs and provides for internal support members (boning)that may span from the one side of the hat, to the top of the dome ofthe hat, and back down to the other side of the hat, with boningextending from the dome of the hat to the brim of the hat. Also, sidemounted pockets may be provided adjacent the wearer's ear, these pocketssized to receive credit cards and a driver's license.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of the first embodiment of thehat storage device and a hat.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of the first embodiment of thehat storage device and hat.

[0009]FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a hat and an alternateembodiment of the hat storage device of this invention.

[0010]FIG. 4a shows a front elevational view of an attachable sidepocket.

[0011]FIG. 4b shows a front elevational view of an attachable sidepocket.

[0012]FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the hat storage device shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

[0013]FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the hatstorage device with a side pocket.

[0014]FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic view of the hat storage device whereina side pocket is attached to the cross member boning.

[0015]FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment similar to theembodiment depicted in FIG. 6 except that the side pocket is inverted.

[0016]FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic view wherein the side pocket isattached to the wrap-around boning member.

[0017]FIG. 10 shows a bottom plan view of the hat storage device similarto the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 except that an additional pocket isprovided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] At the outset it is pointed out that common reference numbers areused throughout the description and drawings to indicate common partsand elements.

[0019] With reference to the various figures, the hat 20 for use withthe present invention may be any of various conventional baseball typeor golf type hats or other. The hat 20 may, for example, comprise a peakor brim 34 and an adjustment strap 36 so that the circumference ofopening 21 in the hat 20 may be adjusted, the opening 21 for receivingthe wearer's head. The hat 20 also comprises an internal folded band 28,sometimes referred to as a sweatband, and an inside surface 24 andoutside surface 26. (Shown open in FIG. 9.)

[0020] A storage device 22 is provided which may be variously embodied,as will be described presently. The storage device 22 comprises a boningmaterial which may comprise NYLOBONE, manufactured by Aranac RibbonMills of Plattsburg N.Y., which is sold in ¼ inch width, which isdifficult to break and has an resilient memory, that is after it isdeformed it can go back to its pre-deformed state, or the boning maycomprise durable resilient plastics, or other materials known in theart. Another type of boning material may comprise boning sold under thebrand name RIGILENE, a mark registered Trademark Selectus LTD. ofEngland. This type of material is used for the internal wallet 56 andthe various pocket closures and side members, which will be describedpresently. This type of material is easily moved so that thewallet/pocket can be opened, and this material automatically keeps thepocket/wallet open, and it only takes a tap from the user's finger toclose the wallet/pocket. Of course, the present invention is not solimited, and other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the artcould be used for the boning and the wallet/pocket closures.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the storage device 22 is an insert which canbe received inside of a hat 20. The storage device 22 comprises a crossboning member 39 which spans from a first end 40, to a mid-point 42(which is approximately adjacent to the top of dome of the hat 20 wheninstalled in the hat 20), and back down to a second end 44. A forwardboning member 46 (see FIGS. 1 and 5) extends from the mid-point 42 to aforward securing member 48. When the hat storage device 22 is installedinto a hat 20, the forward securing member 48 is tucked into the frontportion of the folded band 28 and serves to hold the forward portion ofhat storage device 22 in place. It may be made of a boning material, butdoes not have to be. Various other materials, such as a thin metal orstiff plastic material may be employed. Wallet support boning members 50a and 50 b are each joined at one end with the cross boning member 39,and at the other end with closure boning member 52, as shown in FIGS. 1and 5. A wallet pull tab 54 is provided to open the internal wallet 56by allowing closure boning member 52 to be pulled forward. The internalwallet 56 is defined by the wallet side wall 55, and the netting 100which extends between the wallet support boning members 50 a-b. Thenetting material 100 comprises materials which are made of girdle-likeor other materials, fabrics, and other materials known in the art. It isnoted that the closure boning member 52 is made of a material, asdescribed above, which once opened stays open, and then it only takes asmall push to close again. This eliminates the need for snaps or hookand loop fasteners to close the internal wallet 56. It is further notedthat the internal wallet 56 is held above the wearer's head, that is, itis found in the dome area 23 of the hat 20. The internal wallet 56 maybe sized so as to receive things such as unfolded cash, airline tickets,passes, items too large for a wallet, etc., and it defines a walletinterior 58. This is shown in FIG. 2. Shown in FIG. 5 is an embodimentof the hat insert 22 which shows examples of the dimensions of the hatstorage device 22, but in no way does this limit the size of the storagedevice 22 because it can be variously made of a plurality of differingsizes.

[0022] To install the storage device 22, reference is made to FIGS. 1,2, and 8. The user need only take the device 22 and place the securingmember 48, the first and second ends 40 and 44 of the cross member inthe internal folded band 28. That is the entire task. An installedstorage device 22 is shown in FIG. 2. Installation and/or removal can beaccomplished in under thirty (30) seconds. It is a particular advantageof the present invention that no hook and loop, rib and channel, snaps,buttons, or other type of fastener is required in order to place andsecure the storage device 22 in the hat 20. This is because the hatstorage device 22 employs pressure fitting in order to secure the boning48 and the first and second ends 40 and 44 of the cross members againstthe internal folded band 28. This pressure fit is sufficient to hold thestorage device 22 firmly in place, regardless of the load in theinternal wallet 56. This provides for tremendous versatility of the hatdevice 22, because the hat devices 22 can be sold with or without hats20 at retail outlets. A buyer could have an old favorite hat 20, andinstall the hat storage device 22 therein without modifying the hat 20at all. The buyer would not need to sew or glue anything to install thehat storage device 22. Further, the hat storage device 22 may be soldalone, or as part of a kit, with the kit comprising a hat 20 and a hatstorage device 22 and, optionally, a one or more of side pockets 60, 80.Another feature is that the contents of the hat storage device do notcontact the wearer's head.

[0023] Also, articles may be stored between the storage device 22 andthe inside surface 24 of the hat 20, that is, the articles can betrapped therebetween. This can be done for this embodiment, and theremaining embodiments of the present storage device 22. This is one moreway in which the storage device 22 allows for storage of large articles.

[0024] In an alternate embodiment, the structure of the storage device22 may be similar to the structure shown in FIG. 1, except the crossboning member 39 is absent. This device still performs satisfactorily,and still has an internal wallet 56, and is quickly installed by merelyinserting the securing member 48 inside the internal folded band 28 ofthe hat 20. Again, the pressure fit between the securing member 48 andthe internal folded band 28 holds the storage device 22 in place, andarticles can be stored within internal wallet 56 as well as between thestorage device 22 and the inside surface 24 of the hat 20. This modelmay be used in the soft top or unconstructed type golf or baseball typehats, where the wearer would like the added flexibility to store extralarge checks or lottery playing cards or oversized boarding passesbehind storage device 22 and the dome of the hat. Again, storage isavailable in all embodiments between the storage device 22 and theinside surface 24 of the hat 20.

[0025] An additional embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, which shows astorage device 20 which further comprises a surrounding boning member70. The surrounding boning member 70 is joined with the forward boningmember 46 at junction 72, such that the surrounding boning member 70 andthe forward boning member 46 are connected at this point. At thelocations where the cross member boning 39 and the surrounding boningmember 70 pass by one another, they are not joined together.

[0026] Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a sliding side pocket 80. Thesliding side pocket 80 is variously embodied so that it may be attachedto the surrounding boning 70 in a plurality of different ways. Thesliding pocket 80 is formed from pocket boning 82, and comprises a pulltab 84 for gaining access to the interior 90 of the sliding pocket 80.An opening 86 is provided for in the sliding pocket 80. A first sleeve92 and second sleeve 94 are formed in the rear of the sliding pocket 80.The sleeves 92, 94 are sized to receive the surrounding boning member 70therein. This provides for a dual use for the sliding side pocket 80 aswill be described presently.

[0027]FIG. 6 shows how the side pocket 80 may be attached to thesurrounding boning member 70 by the first sleeve 92 formed in the sidepocket 80. FIG. 8 shows what is shown in FIG. 6 with the differencebeing that the sliding pocket 80 is installed on the surrounding boningmember 70 in an inverted position in FIG. 6. This installation of thesliding pocket 80 allows for quicker access into the sliding pocket 80,but the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is more secure because the opening86 of the pocket 80 is nested in the folded band of the hat 20.

[0028] In a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the hat storage device22 of FIG. 1 is shown together with a pocket 110 for attachment thereto.Pocket 110 has a vertical sleeve 112, as well as first and second rearsleeves 92, 94, and it comprises a pull tab 114. To install this pocket110, the cross boning member 39 is slid through the vertical sleeve 112,which results in the arrangement as shown in FIG. 7. Of course, anotherpocket 110 could be inserted on the other end of the cross boning member39. Furthermore, pocket 110 could be inserted in an inverted positionwith the pull tab 114 at the bottom, to be installed with the pull tab114 tucked inside of the hat internal folded band 28.

[0029] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, a hat storage device 22,similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3, is shown in combination with a sidepocket 80 attached thereto by sliding surrounding bone member 70 throughsleeve 94. It will be appreciated that side pocket 80 could also beattached in an inverted orientation.

[0030]FIG. 9 shows how the sliding pocket 80 can be loaded with creditcards, money, and other articles and installed on the surrounding boningmember 70.

[0031]FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the hat device 22. In thisembodiment, not only is there an internal wallet 56, but there is also apouch pocket 120 which includes a pouch pocket closure 122. The pouchpocket 120 is opened by pulling tab 121, and in this manner accessgained to the pouch pocket interior 124. As shown in the FIG. 10, thepouch pocket 120 is defined by the internal wallet 56 sidewall 55, andthe pouch pocket side wall 126.

[0032] Thus, the present storage device 22 is quite useful for storingarticles within the hat for safekeeping during times when no othersuitable storage means is being worn. For example, while wearing shortsor bathing suit, and or, a T-shirt without pockets, or other apparelwithout sufficient pockets for storage. Additionally, frequently theowner of a given hat or cap has become quite attached to the particularhat, due to a particularly comfortable fit, style or durability of thematerial etc. This invention can be used with a preexisting favoritehat, that is it can be sold just as a storage device 22, and thepurchaser can install the storage device 22 in under 30 seconds. Thiseliminates the need to purchase an otherwise undesirable hat, in orderto have a hat with the storage features described above.

[0033] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while thehat storage device has been described above in connection withparticular embodiments and examples, the hat storage device is notnecessarily so limited and other embodiments, examples, uses, andmodifications and departures from the embodiments, examples, and usesmay be made without departing from the hat storage device. All of theseembodiments are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the hatstorage device.

What is claimed is: 1- A storage device for holding articles within ahat, said device comprising a wallet adapted to be removably attached tothe inside of said hat by means of at least one boning member in apressure fit. 2- A device according to claim 1 wherein said hat is abaseball hat. 3- A hat storage device according to claim 1 comprising: across boning member; a forward boning member extending at one end fromsaid cross boning member, to a securing member at another end, and awallet supported by a first wallet support boning member, a secondwallet support boning member, said cross boning member, and said forwardboning member, and wherein said hat storage device is adapted forremovable attachment to the inside of a hat to be held therein bypressure fit when said securing member and said cross boning member areinserted into an internal folded band of said hat. 4- A hat storagedevice according to claim 3 wherein said wallet is covered by a materialattached to said cross boning member, said first and second walletsupport boning members, said forward boning member, and a wallet closureboning member, attached at one end thereof to said first wallet supportboning member and at another end thereof to said second wallet supportboning member. 5- A hat storage device according to claim 4 having apull tab attached to said wallet closure boning member for opening saidwallet. 6- A hat storage device according to claim 5 wherein saidmaterial is a netting material. 7- A hat storage device according toclaim 6 further including a pouch pocket within said wallet. 8- A hatstorage device according to claim 5 further including a side pouchattached on a side of said hat storage device for additional storage. 9-A hat storage device according to claim 8 wherein said side pouch isattached to said hat storage device by inserting said cross boningmember through a sleeve in said side pouch. 10- A hat storage deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein said side pouch includes a pull tab foropening and closing said side pouch. 11- A hat storage device accordingto claim 10 wherein said side pouch is oriented so that said pull tabwill be inside of an internal folded band on said hat when said hatstorage device is attached to said hat. 12- A hat storage deviceaccording to claim 1 comprising: a cross boning member; a forward boningmember extending at one end from said cross boning member, to asurrounding boning member at another end, and a wallet supported by afirst wallet support boning member, a second wallet support boningmember, said cross boning member, and said forward boning member, andwherein said hat storage device is adapted for removable attachment tothe inside of a hat to be held therein by pressure fit when saidsurrounding boning member and said cross boning member are inserted intoan internal folded band of said hat. 13- A hat storage devicecomprising: a cross boning member; a forward boning member extendingfrom the cross boning member at one end to a securing boning member atanother end, and A hat storage device comprising: a cross boning member;a forward boning member extending at one end from said cross boningmember, to a securing member at another end, and a wallet supported by afirst wallet support boning member, a second wallet support boningmember, said cross boning member, and said forward boning member, andwherein said hat storage device is adapted for removable attachment tothe inside of a hat to be held therein by pressure fit when saidsecuring member and said cross boning member are inserted into aninternal folded band of said hat.